Thank you for all the encouragement in writing.
This is my new address, tonirypkema.com after writing on a WordPress site. I have so much to learn, but I hope that in my journey of starting from scratch and gleaning and growing along the way,
I actually bring encouragement to other people who desire to write.
The goal of mine is to lift all eyes to the One Who loves Everyone. The Creator of all things. The One who Rescued us from the world’s brokenness and sin. That the name that is above every name will be called on by all who read.
I pray that I keep my focus and remember the vision for each undertaking:
“Be Thou my Vision, Lord of my heart. Not be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought by day or by night. Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light…”
I hope that by pulling out old words of wonder and glory, and God’s Word of truth, we’re able to “think on things that are good and of a good report” as we go about our days in this broken and thorn infested world. May God bless us in our journeys and walks following His steps, ever gracious and gentle, near beside us.
I hope to have many read aloud hymns of old and meditate on what is told. And bring a collage with God’s Word, poetry, hymns, psalms and testimonies to inspire and refresh.
“Be Thou my vision.” What do I see? Father, Son, Holy Spirit. One God only, yet three. The Father sent the Son because of man’s fall, to crush the serpent’s head. Thy word tells us all.
“Thou my best thought by day or by night.” Yes, Jesus came. Yes, Jesus died. But He didn’t stay on the cross . He rose from the dead in resurrection. Death brought life, not loss.
The vision is clear. As an ugly bulb is put into the ground, in the fall to simply die. But it doesn’t stay there, dead forever. It springs up into life with color and favor.
“How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…”, says, Thou true word. “And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” “According to the Scriptures,” We draw pictures in our mind as we read:
Even in Leviticus, (dreadful reading at times), You hide great treasures and portraits for Your children to find. Portraits of the resurrection, portraits of Your Son. How is a leper cleansed? It is spelled out in Leviticus 14:1.
Spelled out in Scripture, is a priest and two birds. One bird is killed over running water, then put into an earthen jar, not pretty, but true. And the second bird with cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop is dipped in the blood of that first dying bird, then released and set free, into the sky—an illustration of that brings glory to You.
“Be Thou my wisdom, Thou my true word, I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord. thou my great Father, and I Thy true son, Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee, one.”
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4.
Just as Christ was raised from the dead. And, “Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee, one.” Unified together. Victory is won.
“Be Thou my battle -shield. Sword for my fight! Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight. Thought my souls shelter, Thou my high tower, Raise Thou me heavenward, O power, of my power!”
The sword of Your word tells me the “old man” was crucified. That my “body of sin” is done away. I no longer have to be a slave to the brokenness within. (Rom. 6:6)
“Thou my souls shelter, Thou my high tower. Raise Thou me heavenward, O power, of my power!”
“Riches I heed not. Nor man’s empty praise. Thou mine inheritance, now and always. Thou and Thou only, First in my heart. High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art.”
“And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called…” (Romans 9:23).
“Vessels of mercy?” We were allowed to be broken, first. Then mercy was granted. Not giving us what we deserve. Loving us when we didn’t love back.
That someday, we might make known the riches of Your glory. Standing tall and proclaiming with sound on our own lips: “Thou and Thou only, First in my heart, High King of Heaven, my treasure, Thou art.”
“High King of heaven, our victory won. May I reach heaven’s joy, bright heaven’s Son. Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.”
So as we think on these things, great and mighty, we may trust and obey and follow Him more united. “Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, . . . O Ruler of All.”
“Hallelujah, Amen.” Let us make these words “new” every time we sing them.
God, make our life a portrait of Your resurrection. Once dead, but now alive. Alive in You dear Jesus, for now – in good, and bad, in all that life brings, and forever, for the long haul, for all eternity.
“Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all.”
Let us go forth empowered anew, as we walk through rough terrain and trials that prove long.